Sunday, June 29, 2014

There is no need to panic if you accidently forgot your Windows
password! You do not have to resort to reinstalling Windows and can recover
access using certain applications. You do not need to be a tech-wiz to achieve
this seemingly miraculous feat. All you need is access to another computer and a blank CD or DVD.

Regardless of which operating system is running in your system, any of
the Windows 8 versions
or its predecessors can be easily reset using the following tutorial:

Create a Windows
Security password Restoration Disk

Get the Reset Windows Security password self-extracting data file from
any other available Windows PC. You need the ResetWindowsPwd.iso file.

Insert an empty CD or DVD disk in that PC.

Using some CD/DVD recording software like ISO2Disc, extract the ISO
image file onto the disk you just inserted.

Modify the BIOS
Settings

When you start the locked PC, you will notice the boot screen mentions
a key (i.e. DELETE key, F8 key, F2 key) that will take you to the BIOS
settings.

Press the required key and wait for the BIOS settings page to load.

Navigate through the BIOS settings to change your system settings to
boot from CD/DVD ROM disk.

Insert the boot disk you just burnt and then save the BIOS settings
and continue booting your system.

Recover Windows
Password

You will notice an entirely new display screen when the system boots
up. Windows Security password system window will appear on the screen instead
of the usual Windows Log-in screen.

Follow the prompts on the screen to reset your Windows password. You
can reset the password to empty, which would let you log-in without needing to
enter any password.

Once the reset is complete, remove the password recovery disk from
your CD/DVD drive, and reboot your PC.

If you have followed these steps to the word, you will be able to
login to your Windows desktop without having to enter any password. Whether you
are experienced or a novice user, password recovery is a piece of cake as long
as you have the relevant tools.

Even personal computers running the latest Windows 8 versions can be easily be
accessed using a password recovery tool. As long as you can follow the
on-screen instructions, you will do just fine! If you need any assistance,
contacting our technical service team is your best bet!

Rumours about the return of Start Menu to Windows 8 have been spreading since soon
after the release of Win 8 in October 2012. Many anticipated that the Start button would be returned with Win
8.1, an update Microsoft released a year after the release of its first Win 8
family operating system. Although Win 8.1 added some new features, including a
crippled version of the Start
button, it wasn’t the palatable one that many had been waiting for.

Nevertheless, rumours continued to spread, this time indicating that
the Start button would be returned with the upcoming Win 8.1 Update 2, which is
slated for August, 2014. But a recent report released by ZDNet.com signals that
the upcoming update would not have the old favourite feature. If reports are
true, Microsoft would return the Start
button to Win 8, via its update in 2015.

Microsoft
demonstrates Start menu in Build 2014 developer conference

What has been adding fodder for rumours about the return of Start
button in the 2014 Win 8.1 Update 2 was the demonstration of Start menu in the Build 2014
developer’s conference organized by Microsoft. In the conference, the software
giant revealed its plan to introduce a new Start
menu and some classic features in order to shrink the distance between the
modern Windows interface and the traditional Windows interface. Microsoft had
been receiving bulks of flaks for the introduction of the controversial Metro
UI. Sources privy to Microsoft say that the company had finalised rolling out
these features in its Win 8.1 Update 2 in August 2014. But some technical
issues has forced to prolong it to the next update which will probably happen
in the mid of 2015.

Microsoft plans to
modify Win 8.1 desktop users

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Microsoft has not forgotten its
desktop legacy. It is working on multiple projects to make Win 8.1 more
palatable for desktop users. In fact, Microsoft has had a tough time convincing
desktop users to migrate to Windows
8 family operating systems. The modern features the operating system
featured didn’t really intrigue many, especially the desktop users. The
software giant has very well realized its faults and is working on plans to
make the operating system more efficient for non-touch screen devices such as
desktops and laptops.

It is not clear whether Microsoft would return Start button to Win 8.1 or Windows Threshold, the upcoming Windows version. Nevertheless, we
can hope for a more convenient Windows operating system for desktops sooner
than later.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Most workplaces employ Microsoft Outlook as their standard email program. Microsoft Outlook reigns as the most popular email program because it eases the workflow and has more productivity tools than other similar applications. To setup email in Outlook, here is what you have to do.Basic Settings

Open Microsoft Outlook from the Start menu and wait for it to load.

Once Microsoft Outlook loads up, click on the Tools menu.

Inside the Tools drop down menu, click on Accounts.

Click Add a new email account option and then click on Next.

You will be prompted to choose your account type. If you are not sure, a quick Google search about your email service provider will show you if its POP or IMAP.

Click on the Next button and wait for the Email Accounts window to open up.

You will be prompted to type in your name next. Type in your name the way you want it to appear on all your outbound email messages.

Type in your e-mail address. Make sure all the letters are in lower-case.

In the User Name column, type in your e-mail address again.

Enter your email Password. Like every password, e-mail passwords are also case sensitive.

In the Mail Server column, type mail.example.com.

The Outgoing Mail server is always the same as the Incoming Mail server. For example, mail.example.com.

Click the More Settings button to enter into the advanced settings.

Advanced Settings

Click to open the Outgoing Server tab.

Select the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication checkbox and make sure the same settings are applied for your incoming mail server.

Click on the Advanced tab and make the following changes:

If you are using POP3 with SSL, click on the checkbox and select 995 for your port. Otherwise, leave the port at 110.

If you are using IMAP with SSL, click on the checkbox and select 993 for your port. Otherwise, leave the port at 143.

If you are using SMTP with SSL, click on the checkbox and select 465 for your port. Otherwise, change the port to 26.

Select OK, Next and the Finish button respectively to save your settings and exit the wizard.

As you can see, to setup email in Outlook is a piece of cake. Make sure you follow these settings to the word. Once the account is setup, you will receive all your emails in the email client.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Microsoft has ended the support for Windows XP operating system last April. However, the software giant has provided a new fix for Windows XP users after a new bug came up in the Internet Explorer browser. This is a huge relief to the Windows XP users who were in search of a fix for this big threat.

The emergency fix comes after a security firm FireEye Inc. found that the new bug was being used by a group of hackers to initiate a campaign called Operation Clandestine Fox. The new fix was also released after Microsoft came under pressure from various corners. Various governments had already asked the customers to use a different browser until a fix was available.

Microsoft help & support for Windows XP ended in April 8, 2014. However, reports show that 15 to 20 percent of PCs are running on this operating system. This means that millions of PCs have still not been updated to any of the newer operating systems from Microsoft.

Windows XP was released in 2001 and since then it had been a favorite operating system of users around the world. It was the most widely used operating system until the release of Windows 7 in 2009. The operating system was being used in most of the business houses around the world. However, with the end of support for the operating system, it has become inevitable to upgrade this operating system.

However, many users say that they could not make an upgrade due to the high expense associated with the upgrade. In addition to the purchase of a new operating system, it may be necessary to upgrade the hardware of the machines. This is because other operating systems from Microsoft like Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 requires at least 1 GB of RAM and processors with higher speeds.

Another major worry is for banks. Most of the bank ATMs works on Windows XP operating system. According to Microsoft help & support center, as Microsoft has stopped the support for Windows XP operating system, the operating system in these machines too will not receive any updates. If hackers are able to crack into the embedded operating system in these machines, it could prove to be a major threat.

Even though users can still seek the help of third party technical support companies for minor issues with the operating system, other security issues could arise in the future, which might be beyond the scope of support.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

According to a latest report, Microsoft had plans of integrating Kinect into Xbox. However, later the plan was dropped and Kinect was released only as an option for Xbox One users. According to the hardware designer of Xbox, Carl Ledbetter, “Microsoft had toyed with the idea of building Kinect into the Xbox One itself.” He added, “We pushed ourselves, can we put it all in one? Is that going to work? And the technology just isn’t there yet. As soon as you have something much bigger than the Kinect sensor people don’t want to put it by the TV, it’s too big.”

However, when Microsoft released Xbox without Kinect built into the device, Ledbetter did not seem to be sad. He says, “It’s all designed together, it’s holistic. And in the version that consumers can buy that doesn’t include Kinect, it still all works”. Also, “And so I think I share the same opinion that everybody does that by having more choice for the consumer, and a new point of entry for them, it’s great.”

Microsoft had released Xbox One in November, 2013, and has sold millions of devices since then. Xbox One will allow users to play games both offline and online. This means, you can simply use the device to play games from the disc or compete with your friends online. Since the device is portable, you can take the device with you to any location and start playing your favorite games from the disc.

According to Microsoft chat, Xbox Live is a place where you can find games and apps for the device. If you choose to become the gold member of Xbox Live, then you will have the privilege of accessing the features of Xbox One and its predecessor Xbox 360. Xbox One offers numerous personalization options. You can customize the settings of the device and decide how data ought to be used with the device and make use of various privacy settings for the best security.

By using Kinect, users can start interacting with their Xbox console without the help of a game controller. The most important feature of this device is that users can use spoken commands or gestures for interacting with the device. With numerous features added with Xbox One, keeping Kinect as an option will in no way disappoint customers. In addition, according to Microsoft chat support, users can add Kinect to their device as and when they wish.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Windows Live Messenger is one of the most widely used instant messaging services. Developed by Microsoft, the program is compatible to run on Windows, iOS, Java, as well as Symbian platforms. Some of the interesting features in Windows Live Messenger include its inbuilt album viewer, social networks integration options, offline messaging, and compatibility with several games and applications. For any issues regarding this messaging application, you can contact the Windows Live technical support team anytime.

Sometimes, you may get error messages in the messenger application that restricts you from accessing the program. Most likely, you will get the error message in Windows Live Messenger saying “Error 800401f3: The service is temporarily unavailable.” According to the Windows Live technical support team, this error usually occurs when the Windows Reside utility cannot connect with the services it demands to operate. Yet sometimes, the internet connectivity errors can also trigger the error.

You can use the following instructions to fix such error messages in Windows Live Messenger.

Steps to follow

First, ensure that you have the correct login details for your account. Then, check if there is any issue with the Internet connection.

Sometimes, the antivirus or firewall program installed in your computer can also block the connection of Windows Live to the internet. Disable the virus protection on your computer and check if that is the reason for the error in the application.

After you have checked all the above aspects and verified that they are not causing the issues, try reinstalling Windows Reside on your computer. For this, click on Start, followed by Control Panel and then click on the Add / Remove Programs option.

Reinstalling the application will ensure that all of the files & settings the software needs to operate are replaced, and will help your computer to run the application smoothly. As stated by the Windows live technical support team, you should also use a registry cleaner system to scan through your PC. It would help to repair any of the damaged or corrupted settings in the computer, which could be causing issues in the Windows Live Messenger application.

These steps can help you in successfully fixing error messages in Windows Live Messenger service. To get more information on the features in this messaging application, feel free to contact our Windows tech support team.

When it comes to business applications, what you cannot miss is Microsoft Office. It is one of the best business application software available in the world. It is widely being used by professionals and students around the world. The Office program includes many applications like Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access and lot more. All these applications are designed to make your business run smoother and efficient.

Over the years, Microsoft has released several versions of MS Office and the latest in this category is Office 2013. This updated version of the program includes numerous features about which we will discuss in detail below. First, let us find out the features that are absent in Office 2013, which we have been able to find in its predecessors.

Removed programs

Microsoft Picture Manager, Microsoft Clip Organizer, chart styles, Microsoft SharePoint Workspace etc. are some of the programs that we no longer have in the Suite.

Added features

With Office 2013, we can find new animations in Word and Excel programs. The graphical additions to Word will help users acquire a fresh feeling while using the program. You can find visualization while scheduling tasks in Outlook. The Start screen also looks much different with Office 2013. When it comes to PowerPoint, you will find numerous new designs for slides and new animation options. With Office 2013, you can now integrate your online accounts for SkyDrive, Yammer and Skype with the program.

Editions

The different editions of Office 2013 available are Professional, Professional Plus, Home & Business, Home & Student and Standard.

Standard Edition

This edition of the Suite includes Outlook, which was unavailable in the previous versions. You can purchase the Standard edition only with licensing channels.

Home & Business Edition

Like the Standard Edition, the Home & Business has a new addition to it, Microsoft Outlook.

Home & Student

This is one of the most popular versions and this version the programs, PowerPoint, Excel and Word in it. They are available for purchase through retail outlets.

Professional Edition

In addition to the major applications, the Professional edition has programs like Access, Publisher and Outlook in it.

Professional Plus Edition

Some of the important applications of Professional Plus edition are PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Excel, Word, Lync and InfoPath.

These are some of the most important changes, which you will come across in Microsoft Office 2013. Choose your edition of the Suite according to your requirements.